Efficient enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of CdS nanorods by Nano-CuO

Nano-CuO have been grown on the surface of CdS nanorods by a simple solution-phase reaction, which greatly enhanced the hydrogen evolution ability of CdS. The physical chemistry properties of CuO/CdS nanocomposites were investigated by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, XPS and electrochemical methods. The morphology and crystal structure of CdS were not influenced by the loading of Nano-CuO. And it was helpful to delay the time of electron recombination to the hole, and greatly improved the hydrogen evolution performance of CdS. When the loading of Nano-CuO was 1 wt%, the photocatalytic performance of CdS increases from 105 μmol g −1 h −1 to 3317.5 μmol g −1 h −1 . After several cycles, the structure of CuO/CdS nanocomposites was not changed, and Nano-CuO could effectively prevent the photo-corrosion defects of CdS. This work provides a new way to improve the hydrogen evolution performance of CdS by growing nano-oxide on CdS surface.